"The principles of openness and universal access that underpinned the creation of the internet three decades ago are under greater threat than ever, according to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. The threat to the freedom of the internet comes, he claims, from a combination of governments increasingly trying to control access and communication by their citizens, the entertainment industry's attempts to crack down on piracy, and the rise of 'restrictive' walled gardens such as Facebook and Apple, which tightly control what software can be released on their platforms." That governments - east and west - are trying to destroy the open web, that we know. As for Facebook and Apple... Well, all I know is that it is completely and utterly impossible to check what information Apple has about you. Unlike Google (more here) and to a lesser degree Facebook, Apple provides zero means to see, export, or delete the information they have on you, associated with your Apple ID or otherwise. In 2012, that's just sinister.

If you don't ever want someone to store it, do not put it on the internet. It's as simple as that. Even with services that supposedly let you delete your data, remember that you have zero proof that it was actually deleted. None. For all you know, the delete button just hides your information and/or account. As long as someone else has control over the server, you have no control over what they do with what you put there. Don't be tempted into a false sense of security via the big red delete button. You have no idea what it actually does.

If you don't ever want someone to store it, do not put it on the internet. It's as simple as that.

it's not as simple as that. why is it that people somehow have this weird notion that there can be no privacy on the internet? That is a false choice. You can have both the "internet" and privacy.

Do some lookup on cryptography for start. and then pop in joindiaspora.com and check the description of their service. you can design a system that is both private and social. it might be a little cumbersome or not so "fluid" to use as facebook but you get privacy.

The only reason we've somehow developed this weird and wrong notion of "privacy vs the internet" is because of the "free" ad-based services that we started using when since the net was born. unfortunately i see now that those were a mistake. Every service is paid. you either pay with your money or you pay with your privacy and data. but you always pay.